ILOILO City – Hospitalized patients, especially those with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), were consuming an average of 2,959 medical-grade oxygen tanks daily in Western Visayas.
Bacolod City had the highest daily oxygen demand (863 tanks on average), followed by Iloilo City (657), data from the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6 showed.
Aklan, meanwhile, had an average daily consumption of 477; Antique, 69; Capiz, 353; Guimaras, 42; Iloilo, 233; and Negros Occidental, 265.
As to the maximum recorded oxygen consumption in a day, Bacolod had 1,247 tanks; Iloilo City at 973; Aklan, 590; Antique, 101; Capiz, 456; Guimaras 97; Iloilo, 309; and Negros Occidental, 409.
Two hospitals in Western Visayas are capable of producing medical oxygen that could address the dearth in supply amid rising coronavirus cases.
However, the oxygen plants at the West Visayas State University Medical Center (La Paz, Iloilo City) and the Corazon Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (Bacolod City) have no license to operate yet, according to Dr. Daphynie Teorima, DOH-6 spokesperson.
The hospitals are still completing the requirements so as to secure a license, said Teorima.
OXYGEN SUPPLIERS CONCERNS
Aside from the dearth in cylinders/oxygen tanks, Teorima also noted these issues or concerns of the region’s oxygen suppliers:
* lack of information on which hospitals to prioritize in the delivery and supply
* Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-licensing requirement compliance by the contractor (generating plant), and
* transport of raw materials from other regions
Teorima said DOH already had a consultation with the FDA regarding the licensing of oxygen-generating plants; consultation with Region 6 suppliers and manufacturers; and dissemination of policies to hospitals.
Teorima added that DOH will conduct weekly survey on hospital supply and consumption of medical-grade oxygen.
Coordination with DTI on the regulation and monitoring of oxygen tank pricing will also be made as well as endorsement of requested funding and support for hospital needs to DOH central office, among others.
APPEAL
On the other hand, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas requested the government’s taskforce for the urgent provision and augmentation of the supply of liquid oxygen to Iloilo City.
The city mayor said based on the biggest supplier of oxygen to the hospitals, liquid oxygen from Cebu has become very tight.
“If no liquid oxygen comes from Cebu this weekend, the hospitals will no longer have oxygen supplies next week,” said Treñas.
He addressed his concern to the National Task Force (NTF) for COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Health secretary Francisco Duque III, Trade secretary Ramon Lopez, and Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Treñas said as of Sept. 16, the city was “high risk” for COVID-19 at 73.05 percent, reflecting the significant number of hospital admissions, most of which were from other areas in Region 6.
“Consequently, COVID-19 emergency supplies such as oxygen are now depleting and now on the critical level,” Treñas lamented.
“In one severe patient on high flow oxygen, the consumption is three tanks in 24 hours on average,” he said.
Moreover, the local supplier of Iloilo City hospitals also informed the Iloilo City COVID team that 35 liters of liquid oxygen are needed to fill in one oxygen tank.
“We do not dare fathom the terrible outcome if oxygen supply is depleted,” said Treñas.
Initially, according to him, the national task force assured him that they would make sure supplies will arrive this weekend./PN
